…but the sky ain’t the limit,
I can teleport through my mind any minute,
Take you to a place where the lions go “ribbit,”
Or the frogs roar and the fire is frigid.
I’m out of this world, don’t below here…

"In America, the chasm between rich and poor is growing, the clash between conservatives and liberals is strengthening, and even good and evil seem more polarized than ever before. At the heart of this collection of portraits is my desire to remind us that we were all equal, until our environment, circumstances or fate molded and weathered us into whom we have become."

Los Angeles and New York-based photographer Mark Laita completed Created Equal over the course of eight years; his poignant words reflect the striking polarizations found in his photographs. Presented as diptychs, the images explore social, economic and gender difference and similarity within the United States, emulating and updating the portraiture of Edward Curtis, August Sander and Richard Avedon. This volume includes an introduction by noted culture writer and editorial cult figure Ingrid Sischy.

via inspirefirst

This is my first post in a long time! My words do this track no justice, but his are immaculate. Enjoy!

Ha!

"Killer" design by Ersin Erturk aka altair4444

I keep telling people...Kanye's upcoming album's gonna be ridiculous!

"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak"

- William Congreve, The Mourning Bride, Act i. Sc. 1.

G.O.O.D music!!!

Absolutely striking photo...the definition of juxtaposition.

This article, though published a while ago (07.28.10), is too important not to share...

Washington (CNN) – A new poll indicates Americans have complicated views towards immigrants.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey, the vast majority believe that most immigrants are basically good, honest people who are hard-working. However, nearly seven in ten say that immigrants are a burden on the taxpayer, 62 percent think they add to the crime problem, and 59 percent believe they take jobs away from Americans.

The poll, released Wednesday, asks about all people who have immigrated from other countries in the past ten years, and not just about illegal immigrants in the U.S.

"The results may explain why most Americans think that the policies that made the U.S. a 'melting pot' strengthened the country a century ago but do not make the country stronger today," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Taking the "melting pot" metaphor a bit further, do Americans think that immigrants should maintain their own culture, or blend into the existing culture in this country?

"Two-thirds of whites say that immigrants should give up some important aspects of their culture to blend in; only about four in ten Hispanics, and an equal number of blacks, agree with that view," adds Holland.

And what about the "American Dream" that attracts so many immigrants to this country?

According to the survey, 45 percent of whites say that have achieved the American Dream, compared to 38 percent of Hispanics and only 23 percent of blacks. Roughly one in five of each racial group says they will never achieve the American Dream.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted July 16-21, with 1,018 adult Americans questioned by telephone, including a special sample of 308 black and 303 Hispanic respondents. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

Social Commentary

I write for the proletariat.
Not the 9 to 5 suit and tie buster,
But the soot to tie any ends that meet together hustler.
Not the 7 a.m. bumper to bump her traffic,
But the before sunrise after sunset traffic
Indigenous to dark street corners.

Worn out soles of worn out souls litter these cement laden gardens
As tall redwoods crafted through relentless perfection tower.
No weekends weaken what we work to provide,
As children look forward to nightly visits from familiar strangers.
Big black brothers warm white-eyed sisters from a cold pen
While futures are dictated by dead Caucasians with green eyes.

Pen is to paper as key is to lock,
As a horse is to Richard III,
As former slave to now owner,
As to emancipate what is already free.

This had me ROLLING!!!

Tonight, I gear up for an epic night – the farewell tour of one of my favorite groups of all time, Little Brother.  Though brief, they’ve left one of the BEST hip hop anthologies around and it’s sad to see them part ways. Tonight, I’m rocking out til I’m hoarse and sweaty (doesn’t take much)!

"As rappers, we have to take responsibility for what we say. If not, we're doing essentially what minstrel shows did: perpetuating negative images and reinforcing those negative stereotypes." - Phonte

Imagine, if this was the last rhyme I ever wrote/ The last words that I ever spoke: http://bit.ly/still_lives_through

Going for a run after my lift today...this just seemed fitting. Haha!

Via Threadless. Design by Allan Faustino

Zimbabwe gained independence on April 18, 1980, ending white minority rule in what was formerly known as Rhodesia. This month marked its 30th birthday.

BBC News compiled a very top-level view of Zimbabwe’s political history post independence, showing “how Zimbabwe started life - and how life there has changed over the past three decades.” Though I respect the BBC and think it’s one of the world’s most inclusive news agencies, it’s still the voice of a former colonist, which can at times be condescending and patronizing. I have mixed feelings about the piece – though "factual", the arrangement and highlights leave a lot out. I fully realize, though, that one can’t capture a nation’s history in six minutes and nine seconds!

As a bonus, here’s Bob Marley's tribute to the country's independence, Zimbabwe http://tinyurl.com/276arqz

Some of the truest lyrics spoken...

In an act of great musicianship the legendary Roots-crew pay respect to the late, great J Dilla, offering their renditions of the producer’s greatest hits. The featured mixtape belongs easily to the most sublime tributes to J Dilla to date. Enjoy in this highest form of appreciation.

[Paraphrased from hypebeast.com]

Erykah; ever the artiste.

Happy Friday all!!!